# Search in Europe, national level

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

Filters: country, continent, tactic, stage, from, to, level, actor, leader, outlet, outcome, source_kind, has_case, plus q, sort (date, date_asc, country, tactic, relevance), per_page (up to 100), page and view (table or cards), as query parameters.

40 incidents match this view.

| Date | Incident | Country | Tactic | Head of government | Outcome |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| August 4, 2026 | [Russia: law on asset freezes and service denials for exiled "foreign agents", August 2026](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2026-russia-new-law-targets-exiled-journalists-assets) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Official labels](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/disinformation_labeling) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Sustained (August 4, 2026) |
| September 5, 2025 | [Serbian police strike, detain and disarm journalists covering anti-government protests](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2025-serbia-police-target-journalists-protests) | [Serbia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/rs) ([RSF 2026 rank: 104th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Detention and violence](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/detention_and_violence) | [Aleksandar Vucic](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/aleksandar-vucic) | Ongoing |
| June 20, 2024 | [Slovakia's parliament dissolves public broadcaster RTVS, replaces it with STVR](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2024-slovakia-dissolves-rtvs-creates-stvr) | [Slovakia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/sk) ([RSF 2026 rank: 37th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Licensing and closure of outlets](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/outlet_licensing) | [Robert Fico](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/robert-fico) | Sustained (July 1, 2024) |
| December 20, 2023 | [Hungary: National Sovereignty Protection Act and Sovereignty Protection Office, December 2023](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2023-hungary-sovereignty-protection-act) | [Hungary](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/hu) ([RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Official labels](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/disinformation_labeling) | [Viktor Orban](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/viktor-orban) | Reversed (June 30, 2026) |
| March 29, 2023 | [Russia: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich sentenced to 16 years](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2024-russia-sentences-gershkovich) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Detention and violence](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/detention_and_violence) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Reversed (August 1, 2024) |
| February 15, 2023 | [Russia: journalist Maria Ponomarenko is sentenced to six years for reporting on a Mariupol strike](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2023-russia-ponomarenko-fake-news-sentence) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Insult and defamation laws](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/insult_and_defamation_laws) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Sustained (February 15, 2023) |
| February 8, 2023 | [Belarus: journalist Andrzej Poczobut sentenced to eight years](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2023-belarus-sentences-poczobut) | [Belarus](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/by) ([RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Detention and violence](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/detention_and_violence) | [Alexander Lukashenko](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/alexander-lukashenko) | Reversed (April 28, 2026) |
| February 8, 2023 | [Belarus: journalist Andrzej Poczobut is sentenced to eight years for inciting hatred](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2023-belarus-poczobut-eight-year-sentence) | [Belarus](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/by) ([RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Insult and defamation laws](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/insult_and_defamation_laws) | [Alexander Lukashenko](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/alexander-lukashenko) | Reversed (April 28, 2026) |
| September 5, 2022 | [Russia: journalist Ivan Safronov is sentenced to 22 years for treason](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2022-russia-safronov-treason-sentence) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Secrets and espionage laws](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/secrets_and_espionage_laws) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Ongoing (September 5, 2022) |
| September 5, 2022 | [Russia: a Moscow court suspends Novaya Gazeta's print license](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2022-russia-suspends-novaya-gazeta-license) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Licensing and closure of outlets](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/outlet_licensing) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Sustained (September 5, 2022) |
| June 16, 2022 | [Russia: entry bans, visa restrictions and bureau closures for foreign correspondents](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2022-russia-bars-entry-foreign-journalists) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Access bans](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/access_ban) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Sustained (June 16, 2022) |
| May 18, 2022 | [Russia: CBC/Radio-Canada bureau closed and journalists' visas cancelled](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2022-russia-expels-cbc-cancels-visas) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Expulsion and visa denial](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/expulsion_and_visa_denial) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Sustained (May 18, 2022) |
| March 9, 2022 | [Belarus: Deutsche Welle and other outlets labeled 'extremist'](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2022-belarus-labels-dw-extremist) | [Belarus](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/by) ([RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Official labels](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/disinformation_labeling) | [Alexander Lukashenko](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/alexander-lukashenko) | Sustained (March 9, 2022) |
| March 4, 2022 | [Russia: regulator blocks BBC Russian, Deutsche Welle and other outlets](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2022-russia-blocks-bbc-dw-meduza) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Shutdowns and blocking](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/shutdowns_and_blocking) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Sustained (March 4, 2022) |
| March 4, 2022 | [Russia criminalizes 'fake' reporting on the military, up to 15 years in prison](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2022-russia-criminalizes-fake-war-reports) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Insult and defamation laws](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/insult_and_defamation_laws) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Sustained |
| July 2021 | [Hungary: investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi's phone is infected with Pegasus spyware](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2021-hungary-panyi-pegasus-spyware) | [Hungary](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/hu) ([RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Surveillance and subpoenas](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/surveillance_and_subpoenas) | [Viktor Orban](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/viktor-orban) | Ongoing (July 1, 2021) |
| May 18, 2021 | [Belarus blocks Tut.by and arrests its editors as 'extremist'](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2021-belarus-blocks-tutby-arrests-staff) | [Belarus](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/by) ([RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Shutdowns and blocking](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/shutdowns_and_blocking) | [Alexander Lukashenko](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/alexander-lukashenko) | Sustained |
| April 23, 2021 | [Russia: independent outlet Meduza designated a 'foreign agent'](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2021-russia-designates-meduza-foreign-agent) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Official labels](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/disinformation_labeling) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Sustained (April 23, 2021) |
| April 2021 | [Poland: state oil company Orlen buys the Polska Press newspaper group](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2021-poland-orlen-buys-polska-press) | [Poland](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/pl) ([RSF 2026 rank: 27th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Funding and ownership pressure](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/funding_and_ownership_pressure) | [Mateusz Morawiecki](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/mateusz-morawiecki) | Sustained (April 1, 2021) |
| February 14, 2021 | [Hungary: Klubradio loses its terrestrial broadcast license over its tender application](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2021-hungary-klubradio-loses-broadcast-license) | [Hungary](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/hu) ([RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Licensing and closure of outlets](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/outlet_licensing) | [Viktor Orban](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/viktor-orban) | Upheld by a court (September 1, 2021) |
| August 29, 2020 | [Belarus: accreditation withdrawn from 17 journalists working for foreign outlets](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2020-belarus-strips-accreditation-foreign-outlets) | [Belarus](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/by) ([RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Access bans](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/access_ban) | [Alexander Lukashenko](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/alexander-lukashenko) | Sustained (August 29, 2020) |
| July 24, 2020 | [Hungary: editor fired and staff resign at Index.hu](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2020-hungary-index-hu-editor-fired) | [Hungary](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/hu) ([RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Funding and ownership pressure](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/funding_and_ownership_pressure) | [Viktor Orban](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/viktor-orban) | Sustained (July 24, 2020) |
| March 30, 2020 | [Hungary criminalizes false coronavirus information and grants Orban decree powers](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2020-hungary-coronavirus-fake-news-law) | [Hungary](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/hu) ([RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Insult and defamation laws](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/insult_and_defamation_laws) | [Viktor Orban](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/viktor-orban) | Unknown |
| March 7, 2019 | [Russia: new laws penalize online "fake news" and "disrespecting authorities"](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2019-russia-fake-news-disrespect-law) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Official labels](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/disinformation_labeling) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Sustained (March 7, 2019) |
| November 29, 2018 | [Hungary: formation of the KESMA pro-government media foundation](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2018-hungary-kesma-media-merger) | [Hungary](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/hu) ([RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Funding and ownership pressure](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/funding_and_ownership_pressure) | [Viktor Orban](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/viktor-orban) | Sustained (November 29, 2018) |
| October 26, 2018 | [Russia: outlet fined $338,000 under the foreign agents law](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2018-russia-fines-the-new-times) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Lawsuits against the press](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/lawsuits_against_press) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Ongoing (October 26, 2018) |
| February 2017 | [Malta: minister orders reporter's bank account frozen](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2017-malta-freezes-caruana-galizia-account) | [Malta](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/mt) (RSF rank: not recorded) | [Lawsuits against the press](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/lawsuits_against_press) | [Joseph Muscat](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/joseph-muscat) | Unknown |
| December 31, 2015 | [Poland's new government gains power to replace public broadcaster leadership, and journalists are dismissed](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2015-poland-public-media-law-firings) | [Poland](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/pl) ([RSF 2026 rank: 27th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Funding and ownership pressure](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/funding_and_ownership_pressure) | [Beata Szydlo](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/beata-szydlo) | Sustained (December 31, 2019) |
| August 18, 2013 | [United Kingdom detains journalist's partner under terrorism law and oversees destruction of Guardian hard drives holding Snowden files](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2013-uk-miranda-detention-guardian-hard-drives) | [United Kingdom](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/gb) ([RSF 2026 rank: 18th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Surveillance and subpoenas](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/surveillance_and_subpoenas) | [David Cameron](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/david-cameron) | Upheld by a court (January 19, 2016) |
| December 21, 2010 | [Hungary's parliament gives a government-appointed media council power to fine outlets for unbalanced coverage](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2010-hungary-media-law-content-authority) | [Hungary](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/hu) ([RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Funding and ownership pressure](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/funding_and_ownership_pressure) | [Viktor Orban](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/viktor-orban) | Sustained (January 1, 2011) |
| October 7, 2006 | [Investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya is shot dead in Moscow; a former police officer is later convicted of organizing the killing](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2006-russia-politkovskaya-killed) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Detention and violence](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/detention_and_violence) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Upheld by a court (June 9, 2014) |
| April 14, 2001 | [State-controlled Gazprom takes formal control of Russia's independent NTV television network](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2001-russia-gazprom-takeover-ntv) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Funding and ownership pressure](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/funding_and_ownership_pressure) | [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin) | Sustained (April 14, 2001) |
| October 20, 1998 | [Serbia's Public Information Act lets courts fine independent newspapers into financial danger](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1998-serbia-public-information-act-fines) | [Serbia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/rs) ([RSF 2026 rank: 104th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Insult and defamation laws](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/insult_and_defamation_laws) | [Slobodan Milosevic](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/slobodan-milosevic) | Reversed (January 1, 2001) |
| October 1988 | [United Kingdom bars broadcasters from airing Sinn Féin members' own voices](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1988-uk-broadcasting-ban-sinn-fein) | [United Kingdom](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/gb) ([RSF 2026 rank: 18th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Licensing and closure of outlets](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/outlet_licensing) | [Margaret Thatcher](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/margaret-thatcher) | Reversed (September 16, 1994) |
| December 13, 1981 | [Poland's martial law government shuts nearly all newspapers and interns journalists overnight](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1981-poland-martial-law-press-suspended) | [Poland](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/pl) ([RSF 2026 rank: 27th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Shutdowns and blocking](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/shutdowns_and_blocking) | [Wojciech Jaruzelski](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/wojciech-jaruzelski) | Reversed (July 22, 1983) |
| August 21, 1968 | [Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia is followed by the return of government press controls](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1968-czechoslovakia-normalization-censorship) | [Czechia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/cz) ([RSF 2026 rank: 11th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/country-czechia)) | [Prior restraint](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/prior_restraint) | [Alexander Dubček](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/alexander-dubcek) | Reversed (November 1, 1989) |
| April 1938 | [Franco's Spain requires state permission to be a journalist under a wartime Press Law](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1938-spain-franco-press-law) | [Spain](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/es) ([RSF 2026 rank: 29th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Credential control](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/credential_control) | [Francisco Franco](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/francisco-franco) | Reversed (April 1, 1977) |
| October 4, 1933 | [Nazi Germany's Editors Law bars Jewish journalists from the press and puts editors under state direction](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1933-germany-editors-law) | [Germany](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/de) ([RSF 2026 rank: 14th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Credential control](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/credential_control) | [Adolf Hitler](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/adolf-hitler) | Reversed (May 8, 1945) |
| 1933 | [Portugal's Salazar government formally establishes press controls under a new constitution](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1933-portugal-salazar-formal-censorship) | [Portugal](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/pt) ([RSF 2026 rank: 10th of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Prior restraint](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/prior_restraint) | [António de Oliveira Salazar](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/antonio-salazar) | Reversed (April 25, 1974) |
| 1922 | [Soviet Russia creates Glavlit, a central office to review all printed material before publication](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1922-ussr-glavlit-censorship) | [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) ([RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180](https://rsf.org/en/index)) | [Prior restraint](https://thewaronnews.com/tactics/prior_restraint) | [Vladimir Lenin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-lenin) | Ongoing (January 1, 1989) |

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